Assad bombardment displaces thousands in Idlib’s Khan Sheikhoun

Thousands of civilians were forcibly displaced from Idlib countryside as the Assad regime continues its bombing campaign of the opposition held areas, Orient correspondent said.

More than 85% of the civilians have left Khan Sheikhoun town towards nearby opposition held areas in northern Syria, and towards the towns and camps near the Syrian-Turkish borders, Orient correspondent added.

White Helmets volunteers evacuated on Friday 13 families from Khan Sheikhoun to escape the heavy shelling.

Assad brutal shelling on the town has killed around 50 civilians, mostly women and children, wounded dozens, and destroyed civilian homes and properties during the last 20 days.

Assad militias have repeatedly shelled the towns and villages of Idlib countryside, causing civilian causalities and destroying civilian homes.

Idlib countryside is within the de-escalation zones reached in Syria by the three guarantor states; Russia, Turkey and the Iranian regime.

The Syrian Network For Human Rights (SNHR) said that nearly 670,000 Syrian citizens were subjected to forced displacement in 2018, including 134,000 who were forcibly displaced as a result of agreements and truces which contravene international humanitarian law.